Tag Archives: Aftermath records
Perhaps ‘Detox’ Was A Bad Idea
I’m wondering, what was Dr. Dre trying to prove when he began espousing about this ‘Detox‘ album, those many, many moons ago?
I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall in the room the first time he mentioned the album publicly. I have reason to suspect that ‘Detox’ was never intended to be an album, a concept project, or even a measly song for that matter. I think what happened was one night, an industry “somebody” asked Dre about some new material, at an oxygen bar or sushi restaurant or some other douche-nozzle watering hole, & Dre, being drunk (as most men in his position are often), probably mumbled something about how he can’t concentrate on anything new until he starts detox. Or something to that effect. (Obviously, I’m implying he was just speaking incoherently, as opposed to actually talking about an album…in case you missed it.)
*Bada bing*
Next thing you know, every rap music publication worth it’s weight in dead skin cells was reporting Dr. Dre’s ‘Detox’ looming on the sonic soundscape. At that point, why fight it? Not that Dre even needed it, but this was free publicity for all the Aftermath activity at that time. Black people don’t look that far into the future, anyway. & Dre has proved time & time again that he’s a smart man. A smart man would just let the buzz build & take advantage, man (© Chris Tucker). Now, years & years later, there’s literally no more of a buzz to be built. Yet & still, no ‘Detox.’ Dre’s not even on Eminem’s ‘Recovery.’ Go figure.
So instead, thus far, I’ve gotten soft drink pimping, overpriced earmuffs, & an assload of excuses & broken promises. The fact that he’s spending time with Justin Bieber & Sean Kingston in the studio suggests that he not only has the time, resource, & capability to deliver the fabled ‘Detox,’ but it’s just not as important to him as it is to Jayceon “Chuck” Taylor. & not for nothing, but it’s going to take more than Jay-Z to get the doubt out of the back of peoples’ minds. As for me, I’m so done with ‘Detox’-watch that this will be my last post on the topic, unless it drops this fall, as expected & is way more awesome than I could’ve imagined. But, I doubt that’ll happen.
No shots, though, mostly because one can’t “shoot” at what doesn’t exist, if you smell my cologne.
The Detox Relapse
I have nothing against Dr. Dre the producer. I honestly think, even if assisted, he’s a pivotal part of Hip Hop. Has been since it was the in-thing to be a part of. Hell, even back when he was part of the suspiciously ambiguous The World Class Wreckin’ Cru (lolz @ DJ Yella with the Morris Day lip caterpillar) he was putting in work for the culture, albeit freshly off the heels (pun intended) of disco. One can’t begin to discuss rap music’s greatest beat makers without talking about Dre. However, for all the accolades, achievements & accomplishments, which are plentiful, it should be clear as glass that dude is a douchebag, to the highest possible degree of tooltivity, if you will. If Donald Trump is a black belt, Dre is surely purple status, waiting for the master to die.
There’s an awful lot of clamor about this ‘Under Pressure‘ song, which features self-proclaimed king of NY, Jay-Z & is rumored to be the ‘Detox’ jump-off single. Dre & Jimmy Iovine have even been using various platforms to further trigger our Pavlovian reflex for this urban legend called ‘Detox’. The song, which I’m positive will probably be awesome, can only do so much as to fill the hole Dre unfortunately started digging the first time he mumbled about his ‘Detox’ album in public. I am as optimistic as a Black man in America can be, but at this point, I’m not even sure I really care whether it comes out or continues to be the longest running joke in Hip Hop since it turned out that DMX really DID smoke crack.
By now, any “new” talent Dre could’ve injected into the industry has abandoned ship, so to speak. In nautical terms, the sign of a bad captain is a mutinous crew. I’ve seen more life jackets & rafts floating away from the Aftermath vessel than hit records. Unless, of course, we’re speaking on Eminem or 50 Cent. & even that aspect is arguable, depending on your vantage point. I can understand letting a Rakim or a Last Emperor slip through your fingers for the sake of them being more folklore legend than bankable superstar, because after all, it’s a business. But Bishop Lamont is a key player in the evolution of the new west coast. Why not keep the young, green rap cats around? Speaking of which, anybody seen Hittman lately? No shots, just saying. The last thing I really want from a “new” Dr. Dre album is an “old” Dr. Dre formula, if that makes sense. Releasing the first single with an artist who’s career is based on market saturation is a bit redundant, even if the album has become the “Bigfoot” of the Hip Hop forest.
The one thing that the good doctor has going for him is this whole “old man rap” movement. He better jump on board while he still can though, because I don’t see an “elder man rap” scene thriving for too many years afterwards, if only because dead rappers get better promotion.
Why Nobody Cares Game Is Back On Aftermath.
Call it bias or nepotism or whatever, but I generally support West Coast rappers just because I’m supposed to. Even the wack ones, who I know damn well have no business trying to sell me music. Nationally, the average rap fan may not here about those cats, but regionally, they get all the love in the world. Which is a shame really, because some shit is so God-awful it must be shared. Like finding a carton of spoiled milk in the fridge. Doesn’t seem quite right unless you ask the next nigga to smell it. Misery loves company & what not.
But back to Game.
For a brief moment in unimportant rapperdom, he was 50 Cent’s right-hand man. I always thought he sounded dumb screaming “G-G-G-G-G-G-UNIT!”, but opinions & assholes, tomato, tomoto. Eventually, their ego’s unmeshed, & Game broke out (of the Aftermath/G-Unit Camp) to find fame by his own laurels. No dice. He was still under contract to Curtis Jackson. So hardbody was this dude that he fired off rounds at the man who was still signing his checks. Gangsta, indeed. Then, abruptly, he was releasing his music on David Geffen’s vanity label (‘The Doctor’s Advocate’, ‘LAX’) & was slowly disappearing from the hearts of man, woman & child worldwide. No shots, but roffle mayo.
Nah, not really. He just didn’t have much to rap about outside the normal rapster box. But, that ain’t stop dude from jumping at every chance to keep his name out there. He has currently dethroned Fabolous as the “king of Twitter”, dissed Jay-Z as much as Beanie Sigel & Jim Jones could ever hope to, & proudly brags about making gangbanging a part of popular culture. What a douche nozzle. Anyone over 21 know that Ice-T did that long before he was Detective Fin Tutuola & pimping out his life partner. Ice was a “nightmare walkin, psychopath talkin” when Game was still Lil Jayceon.
But I digress.
Only time travellers & Aftermath staff are concerned with anything the label does these days. If Dr. Dre can’t even put out an album hes been promising for a decade, Jayceon Taylor has no real chance of seeing daylight. Ask Bishop Lamont. Jimmy Iovine’s Interscope shifted it’s focus long ago, & unless you’re his multimillion dollar baby, prepare to ride the pine.
Publicity stunts & Twitter spazzes may work for has-beens, but I expect more from a guy of Game’s noteriety. In this hustler’s climate of rap music, the first thing(s) he should’ve done, after releasing his first album, was start a record label, then a clothing line, put out a fragrance/neon-colored liquor & release a sex tape. In that order. Being signed to a major label (Interscope, not Aftermath) is so 90′s, even for a chap who apparently spends more time writing tweets than writing rhymes. He’s been yammering about Black Wall Street records for years, but as far as I can tell, it’s just his stepbrother & a gaggle of niggas he may or may not get drunk & high with. A bunch of jobless ex-gang members sitting up under each other all day does not a record label make. But don’t tell Game that. I heard he still hangs in his old neighborhood, & owns all the houses on his block or some shit. That can be a good thing, or a bad one. Just saying.
I’m curious to know how he’s professing devotion to his mentor again, so soon after just proclaiming man-love for The Neptunes. Not for nothing, but I’d take Pharell, questionable sexuality & all, over Andre Young’s ‘Phantom of the Hip Hopera’ routine. & I’ll say what people are thinking, but don’t want to vocalize; Aftermath Records time is about up. If they give me a reason to believe otherwise, I’ll gladly put ketchup on my hard drive & eat my words.
Today’s lesson, kids, is that mental illness &/or alcohol dependency shouldn’t stop you from trying to achieve your dreams. Even when you’re not really all that good at whatever it is you’re trying to do. Word to Joe Biden.
